Review: Blu – j e s u s Δ

Blu – j e s u s Δ

An interesting set on unmastered material, which you can take however you’d like.  They sound mostly like very rough ideas, or sketches/leftovers of what he’s been fucking around with working on with various producers, including Alchemist, 9th Wonder, Madlib, Hezekiah, Knxwledge, Nathan and Mr. Barnes himself.   I don’t think there is a whole lot you can take away from this set, simply on the fact that he’s not even trying to present it as finished.  (It just sort of popped on on his Bandcamp site, and other spots on the web.)  It’s a varied long player, with a soulful vibe.  I like the “feels like we were just kicking it” feel.

Grade: Incomplete.  Appropriate, I think.

For purchase here on his Bandcamp.  (But I’m sure it will be all over the net shortly.)

Review: Blu – Her Favorite Colo(u)r

Blu – Her Favorite Colo(u)r

Not going to run too deep into this, as this has actually been out on your local interwebs for a little while.  This is an actual mastered version of the album.  I suppose the only point I’ll hit is that it’s definitely not your normal hip hop album, even by underground “back packer” standards.  He seems to be stretching for something broader, going with ideas.  He uses the classic, and raunchy, Closer interchange between Clive Owen and Julia Roberts, to a couple sunny tracks.  This has always made me smile – Blu understands juxtaposition, and is will to utilize it in his art.  A lot of the tracks are semi-abstract beat instrumentals/collages with some interesting sample choices.  For the most part, it works fine – though I’m partial to the songs with his lyrics on them.

Grade: B+.  Recommended, if having a finished version of anything means something to you.  (Looking forward to NoYork.)

Love the Youtube video, with the Breathless footage – works perfect with the track.  And it’s my second favorite Godard film.

Picks of the Day – August 9th: Exile, new De La, remixed UNKLE and Radiohead

The following are some tracks I’ve been feeling, via the super hype Hypetrak site.  I had an album to talk about….but after another listen…I got a little bored with it.

J. Cole – Bun B for President……a track giving props to one of the South’s best ever.

Exile feat. Blu – Love Line….a track from the Radio album, but with Blu over it.

De La Soul – The Return of DST…..some new shit.

Radiohead – Reckoner (Error Operator Remix)…good remix.

UNKLE – Rabbit In Your Headlights (Massive Attack Remix)……I like Thom Yorke and Massive Attack…..the first UNKLE album was dope….cool…can’t lose there.

for the sake of having a video….here is the popular, very original video for the original song.  Dope.

Picks of the Day – July 11th: some tracks from Blu, Pharaohe Monch, Childish Gambino, DaM Funk, Black Milk, and Drake.

No particular albums being bumped today.  Some dope tracks I downloaded recently via old standby the super, duper ill Hypetrak – if you are not up, get up on it.

Pharoahe Monch – Shine…..this is the lead single from the upcoming W.A.R. album – a future must-cop.

Drake – Paris Morton Music…..say what whatever you’d like about dude – he can rap his ass off.

Blu – Untitled(LovedU)2…..this is from that mixtape he put out a while back, probably over a year ago….still dope with the Radiohead sample.  Album????

Childish Gambino – Got This Money (Runner Mix)…..a dance version of an already good song.  He’s proving to be more talented musically than I thought.

Black Milk – How Dare You…..very excited about his next album – just continually gets better and more raw on the mic.

DaM Funk – A Day At The Carnival……someone I’ve definitely come around on.  I heard some tracks, and Dave loves the cat….and I think my ears were on something else.

Pick of the Day – June 23rd: The Roots – How I Got Over

The Roots – How I Got Over

Impressive.  Throughly impressive.  That is the first thing that comes to mind after my 3rd run through of this album, which thus far is my favorite album since the verified classic, Things Fall Apart.  One thing that is apparent through out is the overall maturity and confidence of the album, specifically of the lyrics (Black is an official LEGEND), the use of other genres (Monster of Folk, Newsom, Dirty Projectors), and of the overall musicianship.  ?uesto has spoken of this album as an artistic mid-life crisis – which is interesting, because while the album is similar to the ominous feel of Rising Down, there is more hope.  And with a few fresh(er) faces like Phonte and Blu infusing some (relative) youth, album is actually as fresh as a mid-life crisis can actually be.

The album is a slow build, going seemingly from a man waking from a punishing hangover or some sort of depression.  This goes into the title track and a following, cleansing track, ‘The Day’, to where the man has actually showered, the aspirin has kicked in, and he’s decided to get dressed and drive somewhere. Using John Legend’s vocals on a few of the ending tracks, it progresses on as a sort of  a mature, hopeful self-realization, in saying, “It is what it is…and I need to try and make the best of it all while I’m here, however long that will be.”

Excellent album – definite recommend.  Video: Doin’ It Again, my personal favorite on the album.  Dope track, funny visuals.